Venting device for acetylene generators



April 15. 1924. 1,490,830.

A. F. JENKINS VENTING DEVICE FOR AQETYLENE GENERATORS Filed March 1, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H F 7.2g .5.

' 'glwuentoz April 15 1924. 1,490,830

7 A. F. JENKINS VENTING DEVICE FOR ACETYLENE GENERATORS 7 Filed March 1. 1920 2 sheets shegt 2 Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

NITED T'TES ALEXANDER F. JENKINS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

VENTING DEVICE FOR ACETYLENE GENERATORS.

Application filed March 1, 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER F. JEN- kins, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Venting Devices for Acetylene Generators, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a safety device for high pressure acetylene generators utilized in the production of gas in large quantities, for welding or lighting purposes, particularly generators of this character which are provided with safety flash-back tanks.

Mechanism has heretofore been designed or suggested whereby high pressure acetylene gas generating tanks have beenrendered safe by the provision of means for venting the generator when it is opened for the purpose of introducing a supply of water, or carbide, or both, or for the purpose of draining it. My present invention contemplates the provision, in addition to such well known means, of mechanism by means of which the main generating chamber and the flash-back arresting chamber are simultaneously vented when the generator is opened for any necessary purpose.

One form of the invention will be dis closed in this specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a high pressure generator having the improved safety appliance attached;

Fig. 2 is a section along line 2-2 of Figure 1, the rear of the generator tank being omitted and the front being shown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, but showing the movable part of the safety apparatus in different positions; and

Fig. 4: is a longitudinal section through one of the venting valves.

The generator 10 may be of any common or usual construction and has a port in the top normally covered by a cap 11, for the introduction of carbide, a valve controlled port near the base having a pipe connection with the funnel 12, for the introduction of water, and a bottom port for the escape of sludge, this bottom port having a control valve 13.

The gases generated in the main chamber pass outwardly through pipe 14, thence Serial No. 362,455.

through pipe 15 into the flashback arrester 16. From the flash-back arrester it is conducted by pipe 17 to the supply mains.

The valve 18 controls the direct flow of gas from the generating chamber to its vent tube and is of a rotary type, the valve stem being provided with a handle 19 so connected thereto that the valve is closed when the handle hangs vertically downward, and is open when the handle has assumed a substantially horizontal position, as shown in Figure 3. The water inlet valve 20 is of similar character, the valve being closed when its handle 21 is in a vertical position and open when in a horizontal position. Valve 13 is also a rotary valve, but its han dle rotates in a horizontal plane, the valve being open when the handle projects radially away from the generator.

in direct communication with the interior of the generator and the interior of the flash-back arrester respectively, are two diaphragm saietyvalves or regulators 23 and 24. The regulator 23 is connected to the gas main 16 by a bypass pipe 25 so that the pressure in the interior 01. the generating chamber is communicated to the chamber 26 of the regulator. A similar chamber in the regulator 24; is in direct communication by means of the short branch pipe 27 with the interior of the flash-back arrest/er.

As illustrated in Figure 4, a flexible diaphragm 28 is located above chamber 26 and this diaphragm is adapted'to be moved upwardly by the pressure of the gas against the tension in spring 29, which may be adjusted as desired to maintain any specified pressure in the generator. Upward movement of diaphragm 28 results in upward movement of valve 30 connected thereto, which, upon leaving its valve seat 31, allows the gases in chamber 26 and in the generating chamber which communicates therewith through by-pass 25, to pass downwardly through pipe 32 and from there into vent tube 33 which leads to any place where the gases may be conveniently exhausted without danger. in the normal operation of the generator, excessive pressures cause the automatic unseating of the valve 30 and the escape of gases until the pressure is re duced to the desired limit.

The valve of each of regulators 23 and 2d may each be raised manually, the upper end of the valve stems projecting from the casings and having pivotally secured thereto cams 37, which are provided with long laterally extending arms 3% which cross near their ends. hen the arms 34: are in inclined positions, as illustrated in Figure 1, the valves are seated and the ordinary regulating efiect of the diaphragm may take place the cams being litted with the valve stems when the diaphragms are raised, when however, the cam arms 3d are rotated to horizontal position, as illustrated in Figure l, the valves are opened and the gases in the generator and flash-back arrester are tree to escap through the vent tubes.

A. long rod 35 shaped as shown in Figures 2 and 3, is pivotally supported upon a lug 36 which projects laterally :troin lever 19. This rod supports at its upper end the cap 11, which normally covers the carbide opening and also pivotally supports a substantially vertical member 38, which h as a yokeshaped upper end embracing the free end of each or the crossed levers 34. Toward its lower end rod is slotted, as at 39, to slidingly receive a bolt projecting laterally from lever 21, and its lower end is prong shaped, one prong normally extending downwardly on each side of handle 22.

This rod 35 is known as an interference rod, and it is obvious that when lever 19 is rotated from a vertical position, as shown in Figure 2, to horizontal position, as shown in Figure 3, that the carbide opening will be uncovered, the valve 18 opened, as well as each of the valves of regulators 23' and 24, and that the upward and outward movement of the interference rod has disengaged valve handle 22, so that the sludge valve may be opened. The generatin chamber is thus brought into communication directly, through valve 18, with the vent tube, and indirectly, through by-pass 25 and regulator 28. It is also apparent that lever 22, which has been locked by rod 35 in closed From the above description the admotages ot the invention will be apparent. The mechanism required is not only simple, inexpensive, and conveni it to install in the first instance, but be repaired at any time without ditlicu Also very slight exertion on the part of the operator is needed to operate the device. It will be obviousthat changes may be made in the formand arrangement of parts and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the exact embodiment disclosed- Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters latent is:

In an acetylene generator, in combination, a generator tank, a vent pipe and service pipe leading from said tank, the service pipe including aflash-back arr-ester, a vent pipe for the flash'bacl: arrester, a valve located in each vent. pipe and controlling the flow of gas therethrough, a vertically movable interference rod and levers connecting said valves respectively to the interference rod whereby bot-l1 valves are simultaneously opened when the interference rod is movedvertically.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

AL XANDEP F. JENKINS. 

